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A former Oban police officer has been sentenced to eight months in jail for possessing more than 60 child porn images and videos, including one of a baby.

The 50-year-old, of Nant Drive, Oban, admitted possessing indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children at his home address between September 13, 2016, and October 13, 2017.

Burnside was sentenced on Wednesday September 12 at Oban Sheriff Court.

At the time of Burnside’s arrest, he was a serving police officer in Oban, where he had been working since 1990. He has since retired.

Following intelligence involving a website known by police to be used by those with a sexual interest in children, officers attended Burnside’s home to execute a search warrant. They seized a Kindle and a Dragon Touch Tablet.

An analysis of the Kindle uncovered four category C images, and three moving images in category A. On the tablet were found 49 images in category C, one image in category B, and seven images in category A – the worst in the scale.

Hannah Beaumont, defence solicitor, had asked Sheriff Patrick Hughes not to impose a custodial sentence on Burnside who, the court heard, is a full time carer for his wife.

She said restrictions had been put in place on Burnside’s home internet and TV access, adding: ‘It is clear through the Criminal Justice social work report, that Mr Burnside has accepted full responsibility for his behaviour and his actions. He has tended his plea at the earliest opportunity.

‘Mr Burnside’s further acceptance is demonstrated by him voluntarily engaging with Stop It Now.’

She said Burnside had attended meetings and completed online modules run by the charity-run campaign, which aims to reduce the risk of children being sexually abused.

Sheriff Hughes said that he may have been persuaded by Ms Beaumont’s plea for a non-custodial sentence, had it not been for the severity of some of the images Burnside had in his possession.

Darryl Burnside was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.